We have an iron gate that has become hard to open/close, so it needs greasing. I thought I'd be able to apply lithium grease and that'd be it. But I find it hard to apply the grease.
The gate is hung at two places, the top is a standing pin with a round hole in the top of the gate fitting over it, which is easy enough to grease. The bottom bit has a large pin standing vertically with a hole in the gate having been slid over it. It appears that most of the friction comes from this bottom part. The gate needs a lot of force to open/close it.
I thought I'd use a lever and beam to just lift the gate, apply lithium grease and maybe clean off some rust and re-mount it. But the gate won't budge/rise. I applied a lot of force on a 6 foot beam levered very close to the hinge and the gate did not rise. The top hinge became looser though.
I am concerned that the bottom hinge may not just be a straight pin, but anchor the gate somehow? Is that realistic? Is it best to just keep trying to lift the gate? It just looks like a hole/shaft slid over a pin. Maybe use a hoist and tripod to pull+ a lever to push?
I see no holes to apply grease, so if I cannot lift the gate the only hope would be to use pressure to squeeze the grease in and keep moving the gate, apply more grease, move the gate etc. or is there a better way?
above the bottom hinge.
Below the easy top hinge, that should be easy enough to apply grease.
Thanks for your time, expertise and help.
B.
The gate is hung at two places, the top is a standing pin with a round hole in the top of the gate fitting over it, which is easy enough to grease. The bottom bit has a large pin standing vertically with a hole in the gate having been slid over it. It appears that most of the friction comes from this bottom part. The gate needs a lot of force to open/close it.
I thought I'd use a lever and beam to just lift the gate, apply lithium grease and maybe clean off some rust and re-mount it. But the gate won't budge/rise. I applied a lot of force on a 6 foot beam levered very close to the hinge and the gate did not rise. The top hinge became looser though.
I am concerned that the bottom hinge may not just be a straight pin, but anchor the gate somehow? Is that realistic? Is it best to just keep trying to lift the gate? It just looks like a hole/shaft slid over a pin. Maybe use a hoist and tripod to pull+ a lever to push?
I see no holes to apply grease, so if I cannot lift the gate the only hope would be to use pressure to squeeze the grease in and keep moving the gate, apply more grease, move the gate etc. or is there a better way?
above the bottom hinge.
Below the easy top hinge, that should be easy enough to apply grease.
Thanks for your time, expertise and help.
B.